She refused to divulge any further detail on the matter on the premise that now the decision rests with the President.

The government aims to digitalise cable network in India before December 2014. According to the plan, the four metros are to be digitalized by March 2012 whereas other cities with more than 10 lakh population will have digital cable network by September 2014.

The ordinance will make the digitalization of cable network compulsory in India.

According to the government sources, the cable operators will be given a six month time to convert the analog broadcasting system to digital.

The I&B Ministry opines that the investment in digitalization will bring new employment opportunities to the cable operators. The sources have revealed that at least one lakh customers are progressing towards DTH platform every month and the Cable Operators’ Union and multi-system operators have agreed with the decision.

For the record, the Indian Telecommunication Authority had recommended the digitalization of the cable network in August 2012 which was accepted by the I&B Ministry.